Chapter III - Spirit and Matter
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The belief that fasting or feasting enables man to
The belief that fasting or feasting enables man to
grow better, morally or physically, is one of the fruits
of the "tree of knowledge," against which Wisdom
warned man, and of which we had partaken in sad ex-
perience; believing for many years, we lived only by the
strictest adherence to dietetics and physiology. During
this time we also learned a dyspeptic is very far from
the image and likeness of God, from having "domin-
ion over the fish of the sea, the fowls of the air, or beasts
of the field"; therefore, that God never made one;
while the Graham system, hygiene, physiology, ma-
teria medica, etc., did, and contrary to His commands.
Then it was we promised God to spend our coming
years for the sick and suffering; to unmask this error
of belief that matter rules man. Our cure for dyspep-
sia was, to learn the science of being, and "eat what
was set before us, asking no questions for conscience'
sake;" yea, to consult matter less, and God more.
When we govern our bodies by the understanding of
this great Truth, that Spirit forms its own conditions
of body, we shall be perfectly harmonious; we should
not hold the body a seat of pain or pleasure, but be
able to dictate terms to it, even as to a muscle that we
admit is dependent on mind for its action. But to
attain this government over the body requires more
instruction and explanation than we have space for in
this book; we always advance slowly with students,
requiring them to digest one part of the science before
giving out another, and so on. We hear it said, "I go
into the open air daily to overcome a predisposition
to take cold; and yet I have continual colds." Yes,
and you will not listen to the explanation that frees
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you from catarrhs and makes you better in mind and
you from catarrhs and makes you better in mind and
hody, if it conflicts in the least with old opinions or
beliefs. The freedom of the sons of God you persecute
because it is a step outside some 'ism, or the favorite
"tree of knowledge" proscribed by Wisdom. Your
teachers inform you, God sends sickness, when the
Scriptures say, He cures it; also, that His laws are
carried out through drugs, food, air, exercise, etc.,
which would make matter intelligent, and the law of
God that walks over matter of none effect. The peril
to the professions, if your eyes are opened to the science
of being, is regarded by your leaders, and the laws of
God disregarded, so far as health is concerned. They
have not discerned, yet, the governing Principle of
being. The Bible teaches us to transform our bodies by
the renewing of the Spirit; explaining the Scriptures
without understanding their application to heal the sick,
does little more towards making man harmonious than
moonbeams to melt a plane of ice. If you understood
the science of being, your thoughts, resting on the sick
and afflicted, would do more toward their recovery
than all the drugs, manipulations, and long prayers
ever adopted. The error of the age is teaching without
proof, and not practicing what you preach. Personal
sense is error; but the Principle of all being is infallible;
therefore, the nearer we approach unto it, the nearer we
are to God, that appoints us more solemn trusts as we
advance higher, but if false to His commissions, in vain
do we attempt to cover it from Wisdom. You may
hide your ignorance of spiritual things from the eyes
of the world, but can never gain the understanding
and demonstration of the science of Life, without an